Determinação de adenosina deaminase, fator de necrose tumoral-alfa e interleucina-1 em gestantes portadoras de pré-eclâmpsia

Preeclampsia is a specific disorder of pregnancy, characterized by arterial hypertension and proteinuria detected after 20 weeks of gestation. This pathology is associated with hyperuricemia, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced leukocyte activation and oxidative stress. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme present in all human tissues and, it is involved with the maturation of the immune system. Although its function is not fully understood, ADA is considered an indicator of cellular inflammation and, its increased serum concentration is observed in inflammatory diseases, such as tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to assess serum ADA levels in preeclamptic patients (PE) compared with normotensive pregnant (NT) and non-pregnant women (NP), and to correlate these values with TNF-α and IL-1β production. Ninety pregnant women were included: 60 were pre-eclamptic and 30 were normotensive matched for gestational age. As control group 20 healthy non-pregnant women matched with pregnant for age were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMMC) obtained from the three groups studied were cultured with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 18h at 37oC, and TNF-α and IL-1β production was assessed in the supernatant of cultures by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). ADA plasmatic concentration was determined by colorimetric method. The results show that ADA plasma levels were significantly higher in PE group compared with NT and NP groups. A positive correlation between ADA and uric acid levels was detected in preeclamptic women. There was no significant difference in relation to ADA levels when PE patients were classified in early and late-onset PE. The endogenous production of IL-1β and TNF-α by PBMC was significantly higher in PE group than in NT and NP women, showing the activation state of these cells in PE. LPS induced...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Determinação de fatores angiogênicos e anti-angiogênicos em plasma de gestantes portadoras de pré-eclâmpsia precoce e tardia

Changes in circulating angiogenic factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Thus, evaluation of angiogenesis agonist and antagonist factors is of greater importance to understand the mechanisms responsible for this disorder. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether circulating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors may differentiate early-onset from late-onset preeclampsia. The study was conducted in 86 women with preeclampsia diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Preeclampsia was classified according to the onset of clinical manifestation in early-onset (before 34 weeks of gestation; n=31) or in late-onset (from 34 weeks of gestation on; n=55) preeclampsia. Serum was obtained from the patients in the moment of the diagnosis and assayed for placental growth factor (PlGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble Endoglin (sEng) and soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (sVEGFR-1) determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that early-onset preeclampsia was characterized by significant lower levels of PlGF (median 38.3 vs 123.5 pg/mL) and VEGF (median 23.1 vs 35.3 pg/mL) in serum as well as by higher serum levels of sEng (median 54.7 vs 42.1 pg/mL) and sVEGFR-1 (median 5211.0 vs 4657.6 pg/mL) compared with late-onset preeclampsia. In this study serum levels of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors prove useful in differentiating early-onset from late-onset preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, these findings suggest that angiogenic factors determination may indicate that early- and late-onset preeclampsia have different pathophysiology

Immediate and late analysis of dental pulp stem cells viability after indirect exposition to alternative in-office bleaching strategies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Biostratigraphy and paleoecology of an unusual palynological record from the Aquidauana Formation, Late Pennsylvanian of Paraná Basin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Late diagnosis and vulnerabilities of the elderly living with HIV/AIDS

Objective: To identify vulnerabilities of elderly people with HIV/AIDS and the trajectory that they follow until reaching the diagnosis of the disease. Method: Qualitative research conducted in specialized clinics in the state of Sao Paulo, from January to June 2011. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly people who were found to be infected with the virus at the age of 60 years or older. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In this process four categories emerged, then analyzed with reference to the theoretical framework of vulnerability. Conclusion: Late diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS among the elderly happens in the secondary or tertiary service. Issues related to sexual life of the elderly are only questioned by health professionals after the diagnosis, also the time that condom use becomes absolute. It is believed that the investigation of the vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/AIDS allows for carrying out appropriate interventions for this population.

Assessment of structural cardiac abnormalities and diastolic function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: The main manifestation of hyperglycaemia during pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus. It can herald diabetes mellitus type 2 and its deleterious long-term effects, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess diastolic function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, one of the first signs of future cardiovascular disease.Methods: A total of 21 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 23 healthy pregnant women (control group) between 34 and 37weeks of gestation underwent echocardiographic assessment. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus was made in agreement with the American Diabetes Association criteria. Echocardiographic images obtained were analysed according to the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient, analysis of variance and Student's t-test.Results: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus had higher posterior wall and interventricular septum thickness, increased left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index, lower early diastolic annular velocity and early diastolic annular velocity/late diastolic annular velocity ratio. There was a positive correlation between left ventricular mass index and fasting glucose and pregnancy body mass index.Conclusion: Patients with gestational diabetes mellitus seem to have a different diastolic profile as well as a mildly dysfunctional pattern on echocardiogram, which may show a need for greater glycaemic control.

The PI3K-Akt-eNOS pathway is involved in aortic hyporeactivity to Phenylephrine associated with late pregnancy in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Practices related to late-onset sepsis in very low-birth weight preterm infants

Objective: To understand the practices related to late-onset sepsis (LOS) in the centers of the Brazilian Neonatal Research Network, and to propose strategies to reduce the incidence of LOS.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive multicenter study approved by the Ethics Committee. Three questionnaires regarding hand hygiene, vascular catheters, and diagnosis/treatment of LOS were sent to the coordinator of each center. The center with the lowest incidence of LOS was compared with the others.Results: All 16 centers answered the questionnaires. Regarding hand hygiene, 87% use chlorhexidine or 70% alcohol; alcohol gel is used in 100%; 80% use bedside dispensers (50% had one dispenser for every two beds); practical training occurs in 100% and theoretical training in 70% of the centers, and 37% train once a year. Catheters: 94% have a protocol, and 75% have a line insertion team. Diagnosis/treatment: complete blood count and blood culture are used in 100%, PCR in 87%, hematological scores in 75%; oxacillin and aminoglycosides is the empirical therapy in 50% of centers. Characteristics of the center with lowest incidence of LOS: stricter hand hygiene; catheter insertion and maintenance groups; use of blood culture, PCR, and hematological score for diagnosis; empirical therapy with oxacillin and aminoglycoside.Conclusion: The knowledge of the practices of each center allowed for the identification of aspects to be improved as a strategy to reduce LOS, including: alcohol gel use, hand hygiene training, implementation of catheter teams, and wise use of antibiotic therapy. (C) 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

A new species of Equinoxiodus (Dipnoi: ?Neoceratodontidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Late Quaternary vegetation dynamics from central parts of the Madeira River in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of late defoliations on chemical and sensory characteristics of cv. Uva Longanesi wines

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic analysis for gestation length, birth weight, weaning weight, and accumulated productivity in Nellore beef cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Plasma Steroid Dynamics in Late- and Near-term Naturally and Artificially Conceived Bovine Pregnancies as Elucidated by Multihormone High-resolution LC-MS/MS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of late N-acetylcysteine administration on cardiac remodeling in long-term follow-up postinfarction rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)